Sunday, March 19, 2006

Back to the scene of the crime

A long hard day today. With threatening skies we packed up early. The event wasn't a bust, but it wasn't as good as I had hoped. It was a week of extremes. Hot days, cold nights, rain, dust, bad food and bouts of boredom followed by flurries of activity. Pack up was tough. Nothing wanted to fit, not enough room. Frustration.

Last night Lindsey and I wandered the site. We popped into the Tavern and ended up at the Known World Party held in the fort. I knew a few people there but most were strangers. A merchant holds a strange position in the Society. Those who don't have the time or skills to make our wares rely on us for our goods. But we are outside the social circle of those we serve. We hold allegiance to no Kingdom and as such are claimed by none. We maintain acquaintances with our fellow merchants and share a sort of camaraderie with them. Virgil from Crimson Chain Leather was our neighbor and one couldn't ask for a better one. We swap our versions of war stories and help each other where we can. We weren't the only one hit with vehicle troubles. A fellow merchant named Drago struck a tree stump on site breaking a spring and damaging a wheel. I hope he was able to at least break even on this show.

We departed one day early. There are rarely Sunday sales at SCA events. Right now we are again guests of Vlad and his lady. He has moved into new digs. These at least are bigger and can almost hold his eclectic collections. Stranger still is that the house in a suburban style development. All manicured lawns and minivans. I wonder how long it will be before the neighbors notice the Adams family moved in. We are treated like honored guests. A good meal and a hot shower are a godsend. So are the attentions of their cats.

Tomorrow we head to New Orleans. This time as tourists, though I expect we will tour the ninth ward before we leave on Tuesday.